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Arsenal are readying a £15 million to lure Schalke defender Benedikt Howedes to the Premier League. Meanwhile, Joao Moutinho insists he is committed to Monaco.

Arsenal, who are in the market for a defender are said to be interested in signing Germany international Benedikt Howedes for a rumoured fee of £15 million.

Arsenal have faced a number of injury crisis this season, forcing Wenger to deploy full-back Chambers and Nacho Monreal in the centre of the defence at times. Arsene Wenger had previously confirmed that Arsenal will try to bolster their defence in the January transfer window.

Arsenal have been linked to various centre-backs, with the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Aston Villa centre-back Ron Vlaar being the rumoured targets. However, recent reports indicate that Howedes could be the man that Wenger will sign.

Benedikt Howedes, 26, has previously been linked with a move to the English Premier League with Manchester United and Chelsea said to be interested in signing the defender. But it now seems like the German international will don the Arsenal kit come January, with Arsenal set to launch a £15m bid to acquire the Schalke captain’s services.

Meanwhile, another one of Arsenal’s target, Joao Moutinho has pledged his future to Monaco. The midfielder insists that he is not thinking of leaving Monaco in January or at the end of the season.

The Portuguese has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all showing an interest. It was previously reported that the 28-year old had submitted a request to exit Monaco and Arsenal were said to be the frontrunners in acquiring his services.

However, Moutinho recently put all the speculations to rest and insisted that he is not thinking of a move away from the French club.

He said: “I am not thinking about the January window, nor am I thinking about the end of the season. I don’t want anything to do with that. I am focused on Monaco.”

Moutinho’s commitment will relieve Monaco as the club has been struggling for form after losing star players James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao to Real Madrid and Manchester United respectively in the summer.

Monaco, who currently sit sixth in the Ligue 1 have drawn Arsenal in the round-of-16 of the Champions League and will be glad that they will not be losing Moutinho, one of their main players, in the January transfer window.